5 Players Who Could Solve Manchester United's Pace Problem

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says his team has a problem with pace. So, who should the Dutchman consider signing?

Here at Bleacher Report, we present you with a list of five players who could give United the pace and dynamism needed to satisfy Van Gaal. Never mind that Memphis Depay is still in the squad. The manager has spoken.

"We have to score more goals, I agree with that, but only one more than the opponent," he said, per FourFourTwo. "That's what I am thinking. And, of course, we still need players with more creativity and pace on the wings."

"That I have said five months ago, three months ago and now I am saying it again, but we need that, so we are still in a process," he said.

Let's get right to the list.

Riyad Mahrez

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Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has lit up the Premier League this season, scoring seven goals and assisting five more as Leicester City have surged unexpectedly into the top four.

According to Telegraph Sport, Manchester United recently watched Mahrez as Leicester beat West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. The Algerian scored twice that day as the Foxes maintained their outstanding start to the season. 

United are not the only team interested in Mahrez, per Telegraph Sport. The article also claims Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs on the winger.

For anyone who has watched Mahrez this season, none of this will come as any surprise. The previously unknown Algerian has been a revelation for Leicester, taking on—and generally blowing past—defenders with terrifying pace.

At Playing for 90, Rucker Haringey noted:

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Mahrez has played the role of classic winger and has tortured each wing back that has dared to mark him. In a day and age where many believe that true wingers are extinct in the EPL, he plays the role perfectly. He has the pace to stretch a defender, the tricks to bamboozle him and the end product to truly make him pay. Truthfully, I’m not sure if there is a more captivating individual talent in the Premier League today.

"

Leicester signed Mahrez from second-tier French side Le Havre in 2014. In August of this year, he extended his contract through the 2018-19 season. The Algerian might not have enjoyed great name recognition before he came to England, but his fame and value are now rising quickly.

And yet, at just 24 years old, he still has time to learn and improve. United and others will be watching closely to see how Mahrez progresses.

Nicolas Gaitan

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If you read the papers, you'll know that Manchester United have been linked with Nicolas Gaitan for years.

This past summer, Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t the Daily Express) reported that United were on the verge of signing Gaitan from Benfica, but a deal never materialized. More recently, Steve Bates of the Daily Mirror reported that United will compete with Arsenal and Manchester City for the Argentine winger/creative midfielder.

So what's all the fuss about?

In a glowing profile of the player, FourFourTwo's Tom Kundert wrote in April 2015 that Gaitan "has been the best creative midfielder in Portugal for at least three seasons." Kundert rated Gaitan's speed at 8 out of 10, but also reported that his release clause stands at €35 million.

"He's at the same level as [Angel] Di Maria," claimed Argentine scout Ramno Maddoni, per Sky Sports. "He has a great change of pace and is very intelligent."

So far this season, Gaitan has scored three goals in four UEFA Champions League matches.

Sadio Mane

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Back in August, Stuart Mathieson reported at the Manchester Evening News that Louis van Gaal was interested in signing Southampton's Senegal international forward Sadio Mane.

The deal never happened and Mane remained with the Saints, for whom he has notched three goals and four assists in the Premier League this season.

In a separate feature for the News, Rob Dawson outlined the reasons behind Van Gaal's interest in the player, which was somewhat unexpected:

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The Dutchman values pace in his attacking players above everything else.

It’s the reason he signed Angel Di Maria, and why he was so disappointed when he left. It’s the reason he was so keen to land Memphis Depay and had an interest in Pedro. 

It’s also the reason he sanctioned a bid for Mane last week.

"

Speed is not Mane's sole attribute. In the player's profile at WhoScored.com, his listed strengths are dribbling and finishing.

After Mane impressed in Southampton's 3-1 win over Chelsea last month, Saints manager Ronald Koeman admitted the club won't be able to keep Mane indefinitely.

"OK, maybe one day we will lose Mane but then we have to be prepared," Koeman told the Southern Daily Echo. "You know in our situation that kind of players, if they play like today, there will come a lot of interest in the end of the season. But now we enjoy watching Mane in our team."

"He is very fast and he is showing also now to be very clever out of his positions," he said. "I think he changed well the position in front and it was difficult for [Chelsea] to have good defending."

Ayoze Perez

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According to Mark Douglas at ChronicleLive.co.uk, Manchester United have "compiled a dossier" on Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have also shown interest, per the article.

Perez, 22, has scored three goals with two assists in his second Premier League season with Newcastle. He finished the previous campaign with seven strikes in 36 league appearances.

Bleacher Report's Rory Marsden argued that signing Perez could offer United precisely the attributes that Van Gaal currently seeks.

"Primarily a centre-forward, Perez can also play out wide, and he has the pace that Van Gaal craves," Marsden wrote. "Given that the Magpies are struggling near the bottom of the Premier League, Perez may be tempted by the prospect of a move to Old Trafford."

The question with Perez is his quality. Does he have the talent to make the grade at United? And is he consistent enough for a club of United's stature?

Van Gaal might be keeping an eye on Newcastle's Spanish forward over the next few months.

Gareth Bale

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The gossip pages have linked Manchester United with Real Madrid's Gareth Bale for ages. The Welsh winger, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, drew the ire of Real supporters last season (h/t Telegraph Sport), and he could be interested in a return to the Premier League.

In August, the Daily Star's Jeremy Cross reported that United would offer Real £65 million plus goalkeeper David De Gea for Bale's services. The deal never happened. 

Whether Madrid would sell at the moment is unclear, but Bale clearly has the pace and dynamism to breathe new life into United's attack.